M109

M109 (NGC 3992) is a barred spiral galaxy, not far from the mag 2.44 star Phecda in the bucket of the Big Dipper. About 55 million light years distant, M109 is a member of the Ursa Major Cloud, which contains about 80 galaxies. A type I supernova appeared here in 1956, reaching magnitude 12 1/2. Although about 7 arc minutes in diameter, only the central bulge and bar can be seen in small telescopes, as the galaxy is of visual magnitude 9 1/2.

Image taken during the summer of 2006, with the 402 camera.